Islam and Christianity

ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY
This book is written in the nature of a “key” for those Muslim brothers of ours who have just a smattering of knowledge on how the Islamic religion has developed, and it has been written for those non-Muslims willing to know the fundamentals of Islam. Islam, the most up-to-date and the most immaculate of the world’s existing religions, is based upon very humane and very logical principles. Without going into details, this book touches upon the fundamentals of Islam and makes a comparison of Islam with other religions. It answers criticisms raised against Islam by its adversaries and explains as compendiously as possible the qualifications essential for being a good Muslim.
For those who would like to read valuable books on Islam written by Islamic scholars (rahimahumullâhu ta’âlâ) after learning the facts contained in this book, we advise that they read books published in different languages by the Hakîkat Kitabevi (Bookstore) in Istanbul. The names of these books are appended to our books. Read this book slowly and with reflection! Encourage others to read it, too! An ignorant person cannot be a good Muslim. Indeed, it is impossible for a person not to attach all his heart to Islam after learning its fundamentals. After reading this book, you will also realize what a lofty, sacred, logical, and perfect religion Islam is, and you will attach all your heart and soul to it in order to attain salvation and repose in this world and in the hereafter.
Islam that abrogated celestial religions of Judaism and Christianity along with their validity is explained first. That Qur’an-ı Karîm is word of Allah; miracles of Muhammad ׳alayhissalâm, his virtues, moral practices and habits; how to be a true Muslim; a comparison of Islam and Christianity; that Muslims are scientifically powerful; are explained next.

in the Qur’ân

in the Qur’ân al-kerîm. As for Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’; He addresses him with laudatory expressions such as, “O My Messenger, O My Prophet.” 45– His speech was extremely clear and easily comprehensible. He had visitors from various places, and he spoke to his visitors in their own languages. People listened to him with admiration. He stated, “Allâhu ta’âlâ has given me a beautiful training and education.” 46– With few words he said much. His more than one hundred thousand (utterances termed) hadîth-i-sherîfs are a demonstration of the fact that he was Jawâmi-ul-kalîm. According to some scholars, Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’ stated the four essentials of Islam with four hadîth-i-sherîfs, which are as follows: “Actions are evaluated in accordance with the intentions (in doing them).” “Halâl (permission) is obvious, and harâm (prohibition) is obvious.” “The plaintiff has to produce witnesses, and the defendant has to swear an oath.” and “Unless a person wishes for his Muslim brother whatever he wishes for his own self, he will not be a perfect Believer.” The first of these four hadîth-i-sherîfs form the basis for the knowledge pertaining to acts of worship, the second one for the knowledge pertaining to transactions, (e.g. buying and selling, renting, joint-ownership, etc), the third one for the knowledge pertaining to jurisprudence and politics, and the fourth one for knowledge pertaining to manners and ethics. 47– Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’ was innocent. He never committed sins, neither intentionally nor inadvertently, neither grave sins nor venial ones, neither before he was forty years old nor afterwards. He was never seen to behave in an unseemly manner. 48– It is a religious precept to invoke a blessing on Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’ by saying, “As-salâmu ’alaika ayyuha-n-nabiyyu wa rahmatullâhi,” during the sitting posture in namâz. Islam does not contain another religious precept commanding that you should invoke blessings on other creatures, such as another Prophet or an angel, which is done when performing namâz. – 186 –

49– Instead of demanding position or sovereignty, he preferred poverty. One morning, during a dialogue with Jebrâîl ‘alaihis-salâm’, he said that they had not had a morsel to eat the previous night. At that moment Isrâfîl ‘alaihis-salâm’ came and offered, “Allâhu ta’âlâ has heard what you said, and He has sent me. Let any piece of stone you touch with your hand turn into gold, silver or emerald, if you like. And you may carry on your prophethood as an angel if you like. Rasûlullah answered, “I wish prophethood as a born slave,” and repeated the same statement three times. 50– Whereas other Prophets ‘alaihimussalawâtu wattaslîmât’ served as Prophets in certain times and certain countries, Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’ was sent as the Prophet for all the human beings and genies on the earth till the end of the world. There are scholars who argue that he was the Prophet of genies, animals, plants and lifeless creatures, i.e. all creatures. 51– The compassion which Allâhu ta’âlâ has bestowed on him reaches all beings and gives them benefits. These benefits are conspicuous on Believers. Unbelievers living in the times of other Prophets ‘alaihimussalawâtu wattaslîmât’ were tormented as they still lived in the world, then they were annihilated. Those who denied Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’ were not tormented in the world. One day he asked Jebrâîl ‘alaihis-salâm’, “Allâhu ta’âlâ has declared that I am (His) compassion over the classes of beings. Have you had a share from my compassion?” Jebrâîl answered, “Sensing the awe-inspiring greatness of Allâhu ta’âlâ, I had always looked forward to my destiny with terror. When I brought to you the âyats [the twentieth and twenty-first âyats of Tekvîr Sûra] purporting that I am trustworthy, I felt relieved from that terrible fear owing to that praisal, and began to feel secure. Can there be anything else bearing more compassion than this?” 52– Allâhu ta’âlâ willed that Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’ should feel fully contented. [As we have stated in the forty-second virtue, Allâhu ta’âlâ shall give him whatever he likes until he feels contented. This fact is declared in Dhuhâ Sûra.] 53– Other Prophets made their own refutations of unbelievers’ slanders. On the other hand, Allâhu ta’âlâ defended Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’ by answering the slanders perpetrated against him. 54– The number of Muhammad’s ‘alaihis-salâm’ Ummat is above the total number of other Prophets’ ‘alaihimussalawâtu – 187 –